Jobs at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa

Job Description

• This role is for an OE Buyer in the Exterior Systems Team. You will be required to collaborate closely with Ford’s Supplier Partners as well as with Regional and Cross-functional Team Members.
• You will focus on Cost, Quality, Delivery & Resilience Metrics championing end to end supplier management. You will be expected to pro-actively identify potential supply risks and use effective problem-solving methods to mitigate these risks.
• You will need to use your effective negotiation skills to ensure on-time delivery of production parts, at optimal cost and at the right quality.
• Accuracy on costing, sourcing recommendations, negotiations
• Effective Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a team, cross-functionally and with suppliers.
• Timelines: 100% placements of orders and claims on time.
• Resolution efficiency: Effective risk mitigation on supplier risks in relation to quality, delivery and costs.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills
• Full understanding of commodity purchasing, which influence product cost, piece price, quality, performance and capacity
• Well-developed collaboration / negotiation skills
• Ability to keep abreast of leading technologies and processes related to automotive commodities
• Well-developed business acumen and finance knowledge to ensure that accurate sourcing decisions are made
• Ability to manage change and conflict
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills including good communication skills
• Well-developed negotiation skills
• Well-developed communication skills
• Good presentation and computer skills

Responsibilities
Quality

• Ensure supplier launch capacity and launch readiness
• Monitor supplier's Q1 activities, including Q1 Deviations/Waivers, Q1 Work plans and Q1 Action Plan implementation 
• Support supplier quality metrics meetings lead by STA and/or Commodity Purchasing through QCDR engagements 

Cost

• Negotiate and secure supplier commitment to program targets and work towards ongoing BIC costing
• Negotiation and management of production piece prices, engineering design changes, and tooling costs
• Issue purchase orders, lump sum payments, and tool orders for production requirements on a timely basis
• Drive recovery of aligned supplier responsibility warranty & supplier caused manufacturing costs losses
• Monitor supplier's on-going MCR design initiatives performance
• Drive the process to eliminate waste in the value chain using Lean Deployment, Total Cost Management, Quality Operating Systems, etc. 
• Conduct GEMBA workshops to develop Should Costs aiding negotiations
• Conduct and support ongoing supplier negotiations to meet annual cost reduction targets (TVM)
• Conduct ongoing benchmarking activities to ensure optimal costing
• In collaboration with Cost Estimating, develop and reconcile Optimal Cost Estimates
• Support annual Benchmark/Prorated Gap Allocation effort 
• Support distressed supplier management

Delivery and Sourcing

• Champion supplier delivery to ensure programs and ongoing production are unaffected
• Oversee suppliers value chains to ensure robust material coverage
• Complete sourcing actions on time to target to meet program launch deliverables
• Support development of global Category Business Plans
• Support after market parts and delivery team to ensure compliance on service expectations

Resilience

• Manage distressed suppliers ensuring robust PCA’s are in place to ensure production continuity
• Continuous engagement with suppliers through QCDR reviews/Cross Functional Business Reviews to ensure effective supplier management & relationship management
• Tier N value stream mapping to aid risk identification & resilience plans
• BBBEE engagement and management to ensure compliance to APDP expectations

Qualifications

• National Diploma or Degree in Purchasing/Engineering/B. Com./Commercial
• Minimum 3 years working experience in relevant disciplines and previous automotive purchasing experience would be a distinct advantage
• Valid Driving License

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Job Description

• At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow’s transportation.

Job Description

• VMC Engineer will be responsible for leading the launch of VMC Installed accessories and resolution of design quality issues related (In-plant & field) to VEHICLE PERSONLISATION AND VEHICLE MODIFICATION CENTRE. 
• VMC Engineer will also play the role of PVT engineer for VMC fitted parts handling all related warranty claims and resolution thereof. 
• VMC Engineer will also play the role as Program Manager (PM) to launch VMC installed accessories. The PM role will entail the full coordination of various activities between cross functional departments to ensure a successful launch. 

Responsibilities

• Provide a sufficient level of service that delivers Key Performance Indicators as follows
• Act as Single point of contact for Eu VP Team and lead coordination with IMG VP including:
• Development and releasing of EU accessories (PC & DC).
• Management of funding process for VP accessories
• PDL Input
• Alignment between Purchasing Finance and other key stakeholders
• Management of change management process for Eu Accessories incl. WERS releasing
• Programme Manage the launch of new accessories post CRF approvals. 
• Provide engineering assessment and required data as input into the CRF for approval thereof. 
• Provide cost estimate for F&T and labour related into the CRF. 
• Coordinate logistics and storage and maintain an inventory of accessory engineering samples
• Conduct fitment trials of genuine and licensed accessories on Ford vehicles in the modification centre               
• Make engineering assessments from these fitment trials and prepare engineering reports
• Liaise and feedback the fitment trial/engineering evaluations to the Program FLA Engineer
• Liaise and conduct Peer reviews to obtain engineering concurrence with VMC stakeholders for accessory fitment and integration into the VMC environment
• Liaise with accessory Suppliers to validate product integration into the VMC environment
• Conduct Quality Impact assessments for proposed FLA parts in line with FLA and Ford process requirements.
• Provide and report regularly on product development status with VP management and the markets.
• Collect and store program data in the FLA database, SharePoint and shared drives for all FLA programs in line with Ford document retention policies
• Develop / Manage / Own BSAQ roadmaps to deliver the vehicle line / Functional objectives (TGW, R/1000 & CPU) for Vehicle Modification Centre Programs.
• Bin / Analyse Warranty claims and verbatim – Generate and manage Form 4.
• Coordinate all current model projects into BSAQ and link Form 4.
• Review all forward model BSAQ projects for consensus of plan.
• Identify and align ECB to Plant Internal QLS and verify containment.
• Manage initial containment for all design related stop ships
• Support PVT Managers’ lead in all vehicle line review.
• Attend and support QOS Meeting.
• Ensure issues are raised to proper area of responsibility.
• Attend VRT sub system meetings, disposition issues to appropriate areas such as STA/ VOME / PVT.
• Attend VFG meetings with region and leverage support from the regional team.
• Support plant on part shortage via alternate proposals/ approvals.
• Launch Support: White board meetings / Start-up / OK to proceed meetings.
• Review and approve pull ahead changes of upcoming programs.
• Work as a Variability Reduction Team member to improve current model quality/warranty objectives.
• Support field service actions.                                      

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, or Production Engineering or relevant qualification.
• Minimum 3 years in experience.
• Professional Exposure Experience in VMC, Vehicle Integration and PVT areas of Electrical and Body commodities.
• Exposure to manufacturing / process knowledge
• Experience in warranty and warranty analysis
• Problem solving skills (8D / 6-sigma)
• Special Knowledge or skill required Problem solving techniques, DFMEA/DVP, GD&T, CMMS3, WERS, AIMS, G8D and 6 Panel. 
• Engineering change implementation process.
• Demonstrate good customer relation skills.
• Develop working relationships with other areas of Development engineering

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Job Description
Job Purpose 

• Build the image of the Ford products and primary brand by developing and implementing a comprehensive product-related communication strategy. Drive aspirational demand by showcasing Ford vehicles as the ultimate, reliable enablers of the resilient South African lifestyle.

Role summary

• This role leads Ford South Africa's product and lifestyle communications strategy, driving the "From the Road" content programme through media, influencer and lifestyle engagement to achieve adoption, usage and rich content delivery targets. It owns end-to-end media management for new product launches (from pre-launch through sustainment) crafting lifestyle-driven storytelling that reinforces Ford's brand relationship with South Africa while extending campaigns through influencer communities and platforms.
• The position sustains ongoing earned-media momentum via releases, editorial and multimedia content, building strong relationships across motoring, lifestyle and consumer media, tracking favourability, sentiment, share of voice and brand health and expanding presence into podcasts, forums, Reddit, Substack and dedicated consumer club communities (e.g., Ranger Clubs).
• It integrates closely with marketing and product teams to deliver earned and influence-based outcomes for major campaigns, partnering with creative agencies on earned-first ideas, while also executing business defence strategies in collaboration with corporate communications.
• The role oversees the communications test/fleet vehicle programme (long-termers, weekly tests, ROI on earned media, influencer and lifestyle usage and utilisation targets) and ensures robust measurement and reporting through partnership with the Data and Insights team, delivering regular performance metrics, maintaining data tool proficiency, and conducting ongoing competitor and landscape analysis.

Responsibilities

• Development of customer lead content strategy and approach to support "From the Road first" communications
• Motoring, lifestyle and influence engagement and relationship programme. Achievement of From the        Road adoption and usage targets among target 'media'
• Briefing, management and budgeting of rich content support requirements to enable FTR delivery
• New product launches to media through pre-launch, launch and sustainment campaigns. Ongoing lifestyle and consumer positioning for product and product related features
• Impactful exposure of the new product to media and all stakeholders, resulting in various metrics being met and sustainable exposure realised.
• Extension of launch programmes beyond launch with a focus on lifestyle media, influencer community and From the Road as a platform
• Storytelling supporting the Ford brand in SAF. Delivery of messaging related targets about Ford's relationship with South Africa and the benefits it creates for consumers when it relates to product and lifestyle
• Ongoing product coverage in the media through releases, editorial and multimedia - along with relationship building with both motoring and lifestyle and consumer media / queries
• Ongoing execution of product comms strat to ensure earned-media flow is steady and messaging is constantly telling the product story
• Favourabilty, sentiment, share of voice, brand health, reputation reporting all need to show that our messaging is landing with media
• Development and role out of platform strategy targeting podcasts, online forums and platforms such as Reddit and Substack, and online communities
• Develop and entrench relationship with consumer clubs and communities on social media (such as Ranger Clubs) to promote Ford related product content and narratives
• Integration with marketing and product teams to deliver earned and influence based outcomes for key marketing related campaigns and initiatives  
• Delivery of annual integrated campaigns (launches, specific campaigns such as "commercial" or "Ford Family Promise")
• Partnership with creative agency to support earned first creative ideas
• Delivery of key business defence strategy and consumer facing programmes for "business critical" focus areas for Ford in SAF and how it relates to its customer community
• Issues based media responses as they relate to product and customer experience
• Integration of "Chinese" defence strategies into all product and customer facing programmes. Collaboration with corporate communications team on overall Chinese defence plan
• Development and role of our ongoing quality and customer experience communications campaigns and programmes
• Vehicle / test fleet management
• Full scope and oversight of test car fleet, including long-termers, weekly tests, traffic fines, and most-importantly ROI in terms of earned-media
• Develop and implement approach for use of fleet with influencer community, key opinion leaders and key stakeholder communities. Agree advocacy ROI metrics
• Develop and implement approach for use in lifestyle spaces and with lifestyle and consumer media
• Measurement and reporting
• Partnership with IMG Data and Insights team on ongoing reporting and measurement
• Delivery of monthly, quarterly and annual bowler metrics
• Ensure ongoing knowledge and competence on data tools and resources
• Ongoing competitor reporting and landscape reviews        

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Marketing or Communications
• Five years of Communications experience
• Automotive experience is an advantage but not essential if the successful applicant can demonstrate a proven track record in media relations/communications, and a real interest in the automotive industry
• Crisis management experience
• Project Management Experience
• Proven ability to create and execute a PR strategy or program
• Budget responsibility